Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for a right ankle disability is denied.,Service connection for a left foot disability is denied.,Service connection for a left hand disability is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety) is denied.,Service connection for a back disability is denied.,Service connection for right side sciatica is denied.,Service connection for left side sciatica is denied.,Service connection for a skin rash is denied.,Service connection for a right leg disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are dismissed as the rating decisions awarding his service-connected disabilities became final.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right foot, right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining relevant personnel records and providing supplemental opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy/neuropathy, neck disorder, back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back, hernia, and left knee disabilities were previously denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The Board has not readjudicated these claims as the Veteran did not submit such evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar L5-S1 herniated disc and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve, as they are related to a service-connected disability (status post medial meniscectomy of the left knee). The VA will obtain additional medical records and provide adequate examinations to determine if these conditions are secondary to the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dysthymic disorder, heatstroke-related migraines, and low back strain with degenerative disc disease and arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the combined effects of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the timeliness of his request to opt into the AMA system is dismissed as moot because he received an HLR as requested.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, with the earliest effective date being June 16, 2017.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the service connection for left knee, right knee, right ear hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine, and peptic ulcer disabilities before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and lower back scar, effective October 1, 2021.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted service connection, while his claim for hemorrhoids is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome with impairment of the thigh and lumbosacral strain have been denied. The current rating of 20% for right hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome with impairment of the thigh is upheld, as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or other factors. The claim for increased ratings for limitation of extension and flexion remains denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability and a TDIU, with attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in March 2021. The issues were part of the same claim process.

The Veteran requested to remove her disability ratings for back disorders, which were successfully renounced by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and a foot disability due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the etiology of his disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for low back disability and GERD due to insufficient consideration of recent evidence in both cases. The AOJ is required to consider all relevant evidence, including new medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma was granted. The claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the claim for service connection for lower back condition is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a right shoulder disability, and a lumbar spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left hand sprain. The claims are based on medical opinions linking these conditions to the Veteran's in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's claim for a back disability was previously denied in August 2012 and became final. The Veteran submitted new evidence in May 2020, which led to the grant of service connection for a back disability as secondary to his existing service-connected condition.,A right ankle fracture was granted service connection effective January 18, 2021, based on the date the claim was received.